Planning and Anointing, Conflict or Complement

Until I was a young adult, I had never heard the word "lectionary." I discovered that a lectionary is a book or listing of scripture readings appointed for worship. Many communions follow a lectionary to assure a balance of reading and preaching themes throughout the church year. In contrast, I was reared in and ministered in the Pentecostal tradition which emphasized being led by the Spirit, affirmed spontaneity and welcomed "freedom from forms and lifeless routines."

After nearly seven decades of living, worshiping and serving in the church, I have concluded that the human instinct to the comfort and security of rhythms and routines creeps into church life. We routinely sit where we usually sit, stand at what has become an acceptable time and fulfill the congregation’s expectations during public worship. The template for worship activity varies from one congregation to another, but is rather predictable within each group. People simply love the comfort of predictability.

Personally, I wonder if our being "led by the Spirit" tradition overlooks some of the values of lectionary discipline. An argument can be presented for preparation for significant celebrations within all communions. For instance, Passover was observed following a carefully dictated template initiated in Egypt and handed down and observed by Jesus. Passover was observed in hope and experienced during the first Holy Week, the week when Jesus offered himself as the Passover Lamb.

The disciples asked, "Where do you want us to prepare for Passover?" (Luke 22:9) Clearly, the Twelve were familiar with how the Passover would be observed. The preparations would take time and required ingredients. Passovers could not be observed haphazardly.

Most of the Christian world observes Lent, a time of preparation for the events leading up to Holy Week and culminating in Resurrection Sunday. Smudges of ash in the form of a cross were on the foreheads of fellow Christians. On Ash Wednesday they made a public statement about their commitment as Christians to spiritual preparation for the weeks ahead. To be sure, some may have been simply going through the motions, but I was inwardly asking, "What would happen if I went to Bible study tonight with the same mark?"

Isaiah announced that a plan was in place and preparations were being made for the One who would offer the sacrifice to end all sacrifices.
¹ Who has believed our message and to whom has the arm of the LORD been revealed? ² He grew up before him like a tender shoot, and like a root out of dry ground. He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him, nothing in his appearance that we should desire him. ³ He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering. Like one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not. ⁴ Surely he took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows, yet we considered him stricken by God, smitten by him, and afflicted. ⁵ But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed. ⁶ We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all. ⁷ He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; he was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth. (Isaiah 53)
I argue, if Jesus’ sacrifice was promised and planned, and if the Passover was observed in anticipation for centuries, what could possibly be wrong with setting aside time to prepare for a more authentic spiritual observance of the Passover’s fulfillment, Jesus’ death and Resurrection? Is a season of preparation an empty routine devoid of value? Are we wise in discarding a season of thoughtful spiritual preparation to observe the greatest single event in history, the resurrection of Jesus from the dead?

Maybe a smudge of ashes on our foreheads would have the right effect on proud people of the Spirit. Perhaps a discipline of reviewing the events leading up to and including Holy Week would slow us down and add solemnity to our Resurrection Day observances. Are we too proud to humble ourselves with a bid of ashes smudged to our forehead? Is it possible that "Spirit-filled pastors" would struggle less with building a special service, complete with obligatory religious bells and whistles? Following a season of serious spiritual preparation, would we dare to truly trust the "leading of the Spirit" to communicate the world-changing reality, "Christ is Risen?"